Container with inner wall elevation line for mixing, homogenizing, aerating and emulsifying

ABSTRACT

A container for material storage or mixing has inner wall or walls and a bottom and a top that is either fixed or removable. The inner wall has at least one or more inward elevation lines or elevated pattern formations. The elevation lines or patterns can be part of either the wall structure or a removable piece which is placed inside the container against the inner walls. The elevation line interrupts the flow or movement of content along the surface of the inner wall during mixing motion generated by a human hand or a mechanical device. The interruption creates local turbulence near the elevated line and therefore results in the content materials mixing, grinding, homogenizing, aerating or emulsifying.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION

This invention relates to a sample container where the inner wall has at least one or more inward protrusions, or elevation patterns. The inward protrusion can be either a part of the inner wall structure, or it can be inserted and placed inside the container against the inner wall. Such ridge lines or protrusions will force the dry or liquid samples to change flow directions when the container is moved by hand or placed on a mixing device. The change of the content's flow direction results in an enhanced mixing, homogenizing, emulsifying, or aerating.

The direction of the inward protrusion, or inward elevation, is to block the content's movement and flow during the mixing motion. For example, two 1 mm plastic rods were fixed to the inner surface of a 4 ml polyethylene sample vial along the axial direction. These rods block the ceramic homogenization micro-beads from traveling along the vial's inner wall surface, and they force the high density beads to collide with the leaves in the homogenization process.

The height of the protrusion or the thickness of the line on the inner walls varies. Strong and fast mixing motions or high density fast moving particles in the contents will require a slight elevation to create meaningful flow dynamics, while slow moving or viscous content may require a higher elevation or longer inward protrusions in order to achieve the desired mixing results.

The pattern of the inward protrusion can be simple lines, diamonds, triangles, discontinuous dot formations, or any other combination.

The inward protrusion or elevation can be part of the container's inner or side wall structure, or it can be a removable piece placed against the inner wall. Modifications can be made to the inner wall protrusions for timed release, temperature sensitive melting, or chemically triggered modifications.

The inward protrusion or elevation can also be achieved by placing decorative parts in the wine cup, such as by clipping an insert piece onto the wine cup's side wall. The clipper will hold the rod against the inner wall, and the rod can be shaped to match the inner wall's shape, or its color and shape can be designed as a decorative piece. The inserted rod will divert the flow alongside the inner wall of the said wine cup and creates local turbulence for enhanced aeration.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

FIG. 1 A lab vial sample with two solid ridge lines placed vertically inside the vial vessel. The protruding solid surface interrupts flow dynamics and create turbulence for better mixing.

FIG. 2. A wine cup with a lined inner surface for increased the aeration

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

Containers come in different sizes and shapes for many dry and liquid materials. Most vessels and containers are designed for holding the desired materials and posses the inner walls smooth surfaces for easy cleaning and processing.

Containers for biological samples, such as microtubes, flasks, beaker and containers for chemical reactions are in cylindrical or spherical or more complicated shapes. Wine cups are designed and manufactured in different shapes and sizes, but the inner surface is kept smooth and no dynamic flow structure or patterns is built in or attached. Containers for paint, liquid ink or coloration materials are designed with a smooth inner surface without taking into consideration the advantages of the flow dynamics for mixing, aeration purpose.

Modifications of containers have been used for preventing sample settlement for slow moving mixtures and lines have been incorporated in the sample cap or outside walls to reinforce the container's structure. 

1. A container a. that has at least one of the protruding ridges or lines or inward elevation patterns on the inner surface and the said protruding element disrupts the content's movements or flow along the inside wall surface and results in local turbulences. b. The said protruding ridge line, or pattern can be a part of the container's wall structure or it can be a removable insert or it can be fixed on the vessel or container. 